Former Villa manager Big Ron Atkinson and ex-players Colin Gibson and Gary Shaw were also at the event to mark the venue's first major premier of the year.

And although Stallone himself had been forced to send his apologies due to filming commitments for his new Rambo movie, there were plenty of big name boxers in the ring to watch the movie in his honour.

Birmingham's own Wayne Elcock and heavyweight Pele Reid were also among the 350 people packed into the venue for Rocky Six.

Council dignitaries also rubbed shoulders with the sports stars and a special audience of VIP competition winners who had won the chance to be at the premier through the Birmingham Mail and Galaxy Radio.

Boxing fans Lloyd Wilkes and Phil Barrett were among those to walk the red carpet into the boxing ring-themed cinema.